Process for treating cyanidable ores containing deleterious slimes.



UNITED STATES Pg ENT OFFICE.

WILTON E. DARROW, OF SUTTER CREEK, CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS FOR TREATING GYANIDABLE ORES CONTAINING DELETERIOUS SLIMES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, W'ILTON E. DARROW, acitizen of the United States, residing at Sutter Creek, in the county ofAmador, State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Processes for Treating Cyanidable Ores ContainingDeleterious Slimes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to an improved process for the treatmentofcrushed ores. I11 the cyanidation of gold ores it is sometimes foundthat the slimed portions of the crushed ore contain graphite or otherdeleterious substances which act as precipitants thus causing an actualloss of values in the treatment of the ores or which slimed portionscontaining such deleterious substances are of such low value as to becommercially valueless for treatment. I have discovered from years ofexperiment that many of these ores can be profitably cyanided by firstseparating the granular particles from the slimed portion, which slimedportion con tains the greater portion of the deleterious compounds andthen by subjecting such slimed portion to a concentration process thegreater portion of its contained gold can be obtained in enrichedcyanidable concentrates which are nearly free from the graphite anddeleterious colloidal substances. This elimination of the colloidalslime and graphite removes also the greater portion of acidity from theore thus effecting a great saving of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed March 11, 1914. Serial No. 823,976.

the quantity of chemicals used in the subsequent cyanidation of theenriched product.

The various steps in my improved process for the treatment of the oresconsist in passing the crushed ore through a succession of coneclassifiers with intermediate dilutions of clear water or other similarclassification means might be used. By this means the slimed portionsare removed in that form from the granular particles. Such slimedportions are then concentrated preferably by means of being washed overconcentrating tables of suitable construction whereby the deleteriousgraphite or other colloidal substances are removed, the greater portionof the associated gold being collected on the tables in fairly clean andcyanidable concentrates. These concentrates and the granular portionsare then subjected to cyanidation in any suitable manner.

Having described the steps of my improved process what I claim is:

The herein described process of treating v cyanidable crushed oresconsisting in first separating the granular particles and the slimes ofsaid ores and then treating the slimed portion thereof to removetherefrom the graphite and other deleterious colloidal substances, asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILTON E. DARROW. Witnesses:

STEPHEN H. BLEWETT, FLOYD M. BLANGHARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

